About us

MISSION: To provide vision and leadership to support thriving and diverse arts in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

VALUES STATEMENT: We value the abundant presence of art in the Mid-Hudson Valley and its ability to uplift, empower and engage. We honor diversity and celebrate creativity. We are committed to playing a central role in supporting and promoting all of the arts in the communities we serve.

PROGRAMS
Through advocacy, exhibitions, performances, folk arts programs, festivals, awards and more, we bring creative offerings to artists, educators, venues, students and those who enjoy the region’s vast bounty of arts, bridging cultures, inspiring creativity and transforming communities.GRANTS AND FUNDING
Arts Mid-Hudson administers New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) funding in Dutchess, Ulster and Orange Counties, with annual competitive grants awarded to artists, schools, community groups, and arts organizations. Funding also is available through Dutchess County Partners in the Arts, and Ulster County Cultural Services & Promotion Fund.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
From regional to localized activities, our outreach and joint efforts support a wide range of initiatives, including the annual Dutchess and Ulster County Executives’ Arts Awards, plus Poughkeepsie’s monthly Queen City Arts Initiative, collaborations with businesses and organizations, and many other endeavors, fostering effective communications between artists and communities.ARTS CONSULTING
Arts Mid-Hudson leads grant preparation workshops and proposal consultation sessions. We also secure bulk media opportunities for arts organizations to reach targeted audiences, and support regional and local marketing initiatives related to the arts. Arts Mid-Hudson connects the community with artworks by regional artists through exhibitions and sales.

With a life-long interest in the arts, Linda is a native Californian who has lived in a variety of West Coast locations. After relocating from Seattle to Orange, Virginia in 1997, she founded the Arts Center in Orange, a nonprofit community arts center that continues to successfully serve that region today. Beginning in 2002, Linda added a new focus to her work at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Program, an international residency program located in Italy for artists, scholars and nonprofit leaders. Currently she serves as Executive Director of Arts Mid-Hudson in the Hudson Valley region of New York, charged with leading the work of creating community connections through the arts, expanding arts advocacy, grantmaking, technical assistance and workshops for artists and arts organizations. She holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy, serves as a board member for Dutchess Tourism, Inc. and is a Pattern for Progress Fellow.To contact Linda, click here.

LISA FIORESE. Director, Administration

Lisa Fiorese, joined Arts Mid-Hudson in 1992 as a part-time bookkeeper. Over the next few years she took on additional responsibilities, at first job sharing the Administrative Assistant position and eventually moving into the position full time. In 2000, Lisa stepped into the position of Manager of Development & Administration and in 2007 was promoted to Business Manager. Lisa’s current position includes bookkeeping, office administration, contract administration, memberships and event coordination: in mid-2014 her title was changed to Director, Administration. Lisa resides in Staatsburg with her husband of 24 years. She wishes she had more time to spend with her camera but it waits patiently for her to retire. To contact Lisa, click here.

MERRITT MINNEMEYER. Grants & Funding Manager

Merritt Minnemeyer comes to Arts Mid-Hudson with 20 years of experience in the arts, non-profit, social justice, and education fields. She began her career Off-Broadway in NYC in the late 1990’s, and has since journeyed to Seattle, Northern California, and Western York working with thousands of students as a teaching artist and anti-oppression advocate. Most recently, she served as Education Outreach Director for Half Moon Theatre here in the Hudson Valley. Merritt holds a BFA in Acting from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, and a Masters in Humanistic/Multicultural Education from SUNY New Paltz. She has served on several non-profit boards, and is most proud of her roles of Partner to her husband, Thomas, and Mom to her three boys. A California native, Merritt lives in New Paltz with her family and their two goofy pound pups. To contact Merritt, click here.

MELISSA DVOZENJA-THOMAS. Marketing & Funding Coordinator

Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas joined Arts Mid-Hudson in April 2015. Most recently Melissa was the Human Resources Office Manager at Cardinal Hayes Home For Children in Millbrook. Prior to that, she was the Managing Director at Allenberry Resort Inn & Playhouse in Pennsylvania, where her work incorporated coordinating volunteer programs, auditions, events, social media, and theatre representation. Melissa holds a BA in Acting for Theatre, a BA in Music Performance, a Masters in Public Administration and a Masters Certificate from the International Institute of Event Management. She is also a skilled photographer. To contact Melissa, click here.

LILIA PÉREZ. Grants Associate

Lilia Pérez joined Arts Mid-Hudson in May 2016. Most recently, she graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz with a B.F.A. in Photography. Previously, Lilia worked as an Arts Administration Intern at the Center for Photography at Woodstock. Her time spent living, working, and studying in the Hudson Valley established a love for the area and its vibrant arts community. Now based in Kingston, NY, she continues her varying photographic work and exhibiting in the area. To contact Lilia, click here.

ELINOR LEVY. Folk Arts Program Manager

Elinor Levy, joined Arts-Mid Hudson in September 2016 as the Folk Arts Program manager. A native of Oakland, California, she has bounced around the country from California to Indiana, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and now New York. Previously, she worked in Las Vegas as the folklorist for Clark County Parks and Recreation and as executive director of the Northwest Jersey Folklife Project. Having spent the last decade as a folklorist consultant and an adjunct professor, she is excited to be doing public folklore again especially in the culturally rich Hudson Valley. She has a master’s degree in Anthropology from California State University, Sacramento and a doctorate in folklore from Indiana University, Bloomington. She is a folk artist in her own right as a third generation knitter on her mother’s side. In the past three years she has added spinning her own yarn to her skills and looks forward each year to helping a friend shear a small flock of Jacob sheep. To contact Elinor, click here.

G. ANGELA HENRY – Chairperson, Voice Actor

Angela has founded her own business as a voice actor for many applications, from audiobooks to short story performances to webinars and commercial voice-overs. Multi-lingual and a trained actor, she has performed at the Actors Studio in New York as well as Café Bocca in Poughkeepsie and the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. Angela is the producer of historic graveyard tours at FDR’s church, is the artistic director of the Spoken Word Café, and is an emcee and auctioneer for charity events. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and holds a BA from Tufts University and a Master’s from Harvard University.

CATHY SCHMITZ – Treasurer, Steinberg, Symer & Platt, LLP

Cathy Schmitz is the Editor at Laughing Earth Press, an independent publisher of short stories and poetry, and holds regular literary reading events through Laughing Earth and POKLit. She currently works as a Paralegal for Steinberg, Symer & Platt, LLP, and previous positions included bookkeeping and legal secretary for legal firms. Schmitz holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature from Bard College.

JUDITH M. BRUSH – Vice Chair, D/J Brush Associates.

Judith is president and co-founder of D/J Brush Associates, a communication and marketing consulting firm that has helped national and international corporations as well as small companies, nonprofits and educational institutions design and implement innovative messages to internal and external audiences. The firm has been based in the Hudson Valley since 1981. She is co-author of five books on the use of media in the corporate environment called “The Brush Reports,” and has been a guest speaker throughout the U.S. and Europe on communication issues. Brush has been active in various nonprofits in the community and currently serves on various Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce committees and as a consultant to United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.

DJ BRUMFIELD – Chair/Development, Consultant

DJ Brumfield has over 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit field, primarily as a fundraiser.He has worked for public interest law, disease research/prevention, science/education, social services and performing arts institutions, all in New York City. Over the past ten years, he has been a national director of institutional giving (The Actors Fund), a corporate philanthropy officer (The Apollo Theater), and director of development at Symphony Space. He has been a contributing professional to annual budgets ranging from $3 million to $30 million, and has worked with capital campaigns up to $100 million. As a volunteer, DJ has served on boards and committees with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Scenic Hudson, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and the LGBTQ Center of the Hudson Valley. DJ attended Pace University, New York.He has been an Adjunct Professor at Marymount College, Manhattan, as an American Sign Language instructor. He and his husband reside in Kingston.

LINDA BARASH – Artist and Educator

Linda is a retired art teacher. She taught at Kingston City Schools from 1973-2006. In addition, she actively pursues her love for travel and her interest in learning and experiencing different cultures. When is isn’t traveling she spends time in her studio painting.

CHRIS CANTELE – H.V. Federal Credit Union

Chris Cantele joined HVFCU Financial Services in 2006. He has over 20 years industry experience, assisting members with their financial service needs, such as Portfolio Review, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Asset and Income Protection and Wealth Accumulation. Throughout his career, Chris has been dedicated to taking a consultative approach in helping people define and work towards their financial goals. Chris leads a team of experienced Financial Consultants and LPL Registered Sales Associates who focus on the total member relationship, offering unbiased advice and guidance through important and complex financial decisions. Chris has been a resident of Dutchess County for most of his life, where he currently resides with his wife and two children.

MARY CASSESE – Clinical Social Work/Therapist-Private Practice

Bio to come.

EVANGELINE GALA – Photographer

Bio to come.

MEGAN MCKANN – Marshall & Sterling Insurance

Bio to come.

JOHN NELSON – Health Quest

John Nelson is Director, Public and Community Affairs of Health Quest. Previously he worked as the Local Editor at the Poughkeepsie Journal, where he established strong community connections. He holds a MFA in Theatre, Ohio University and a BFA Theatre/English from University of Nebraska.

Supporters

Collaborations

Queen City weekends – in Poughkeepsie – every third weekend.

The latest events scheduled across a number of arts and cultural organizations in Poughkeepsie.

ADVISORY BOARD

Nancy Azara

Sadhna Bhargava

Roy Budnik

Frank Castella, Jr.

Kianga Daverington

Mariel Fiori

Ev Mann

Wilfredo Morel

James Mundy

Danny Rubenstein

Ruth E. Spencer

Ray Watkins

Mackenzie Cole (2017 Grants/Admin Intern)Mackenzie Cole is finishing her final semester at Vassar College, where she is studying Drama and Women’s Studies. Mackenzie has come to the Hudson Valley region from her hometown of Wichita, Kansas. Mackenzie primarily works in theatre as a company manager, stage manager, and production manager, and she comes to Arts Mid-Hudson after previously working at non-profit theatre companies such as Music Theatre Wichita, Adirondack Theatre Festival, and New York City Center. After graduation, Mackenzie intends to pursue a masters degree in Arts Administration.

Kurt Suffern (2017 Arts Admin Intern)

Kurt Suffern is currently enrolled at SUNY Purchase where he is completing his final semester. He will be graduating with a degree in Arts Management and a minor in History. Having grown up in the Hudson Valley Kurt still lives in Orange County. Kurt’s passion for the Arts started nearly 10 years ago when he first picked up guitar. He has performed in several venues throughout the Lower East Side of Manhattan, which has furthered his passion in Arts. Professionally he has been working in the customer service industry for roughly 10 years.